Coronavirus: Aldi launches online shopping service for the first time ever

It is the first time Aldi has sold shopping online

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An online shopping service has been launched by Aldi for the first time to help vulnerable people during the coronavirus lockdown.

The German supermarket said it will start selling food parcels online from Friday 16 April.

The parcels will be delivered to homes across the country to help vulnerable people and those who are self-isolating.

Aldi said the parcels will contain 22 products, including long-lasting foods, such as tinned soup, rice and pasta.

Each parcel will also contain antibacterial hand wash and a four-pack of toilet roll, Aldi added.

The parcels will retail at £24.99 inclusive of delivery and will be limited to one per customer.

“We are committed to providing quick, safe and affordable access to food for all our customers and understand that, for some, visiting one of our stores is not an option at the moment,” said Fritz Walleczek, managing director for corporate responsibility at Aldi.

“We’re constantly looking for new and better ways to support our customers in these uncertain times and I’m hopeful that these food parcels will make life a little easier for some of the country’s most at-risk people.”

Full list of products available in Aldi’s parcels:

• Antibacterial Handwash
• Aloe Vera Toilet Tissue 4pk
• Choceur Milk Chocolate Bar
• UHT Green Semi Skimmed Milk
• Rice Pudding
• Salted Peanuts
• Biscuit Barrel Assortment
• Gold Label Tea
• Instant Coffee
• Premium Baked Beans
• Premium Plum Tomatoes
• Bolognese Pasta Sauce
• Tuna Chunks In Brine 4pack
• Bramwells Carrot & Coriander Soup
• Tomato Soup
• Minestrone Soup
• Chilli Con Carne
• Basmati Rice 1kg
• Fusilli
• Part Baked Brown Roll
• Sliced Carrots
• 4 Pack Sweetcorn

Supermarkets have remained open during the lockdown but must adhere to strict social distancing measures to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

Aldi, ASDA, Co-op, Iceland, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose have all introduced dedicated shopping times for NHS staff and other key workers.

The government has updated its guidance on what can and can’t be sold in supermarkets following accusations that some police forces had been deploying “overzealous” tactics in determining what constitued “essential items”.

“We’ve set out a list of shops which could remain open, and if the shops are on that list then they’re free to sell whatever they have in stock, obviously provided it’s legal to do so,” a spokesperson said.